Refrigerator.



. PTBNTED FEB. 25, NUS. F, V.DETWLER.

RBFRIGERATOR.

ABPLIGATIE FILED NOV. 30, 1906.

N. www,

BATENTED PEB. 25, 190B. F. V. DBTWILER. ELEFRIC-ERATOR.

No.. Sem-13.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 30. ISGS.

l 2 SHEETS-SEBET 2.

. -4 cheap, and durable in construction, and etti-v FORREST V. DETWILR, OF CIIIOMGD, ILLINOIS.

nnrnzonaaron.

l' Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patnted Feb. 25, 1908.

APPltion tiled November 30. 1906. Serial No. 345.709.

'[o all -wlu'rm it may concern: g

Bc it known that I, Fonnns'r Y. DETWILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois. have inve. l rl certain new and useful improvements in Refrigerators, of which the tllowing is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerators. and the primary object of the sanne is to provide improved means whereby either the city supply of water, or ice may be used as a cooling medium.

A further object is to provide an ilniroved device of this character containing a cooling casing which may he readily and bodil)y removed from the refrigerator.

A further objectJ is to provide improved means for flushing or cleaning the cooling casing.

A further ob'ect is to provide an improved device of this c aracter which will be simple,

cient in operation.

To theat-ta'inment of these ends, and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will ap ear', the invention consists 1n the features ol novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating an exempliiication -of the invention, and in Which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on line l--l of Fig. 2,; Withy the luid supply pipes removed for the purpose of a clearer illustration. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, parti)rv in section, of the cooling casinv .with the flushing' or cleaning meansattached` thereto, and with the icesupport-ing rack removed. Fig'. 4, is a detail sectional View of the drain valve and its operating means. fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, of

the ventilating and cooling pipes. Fig. 6 is an enlarged 'detail sectional view of one of the cooling tubes and a-portion of the flushing' or cleaning mechanism.

lteferringmorc particularly to the drawings. the same refcrcncc numerals designate eimilai parts throughout thc several views,

and 1u this efu'mpliliratlou ut' the invention the mm'ieral 1U designates the outer casing '02; trame work oi' the refrigerator. -This framework or casingis prcferal l}' provided "with an inner' wall 11 spar-.mi from theeutr wall 10, and in said space may be arranged any suitable non-licat- |mducting means, such as mineral wool or thc lila(` (not shown). A similar wall 12 i.; also arranged within the 6o' casing, and is spaced from thc wall 11 in an)Y suitable manner; and said wall is provided with a series of apertures or openings 13, '14, 15, 16, leading from thc inside of the casing and communicating with the'space between 65 the walls 11 and l2, for a purpose to be here-- inal'ter more fully et forth.

Arranged within thc casing, in the usual manner, is a drip pan 17, leading from which is a suitable. discharge pipe 1S, which prefer- 70 ably passes through the walls of the casing and serves as a means for retaining the drip pan in position. If desired, a suitable faucet or discharge valve 19 may be secured to the end of the pipe 18 for discharging the 75 liquid from the drip pan.

Arranged within the chamber formed by the inner walls 12 is a cooling casing which preferably comprises a hollow base 20, preferably in the form of a closed tank. Secured S0 to the lower; face of this base, preferably on opposite sides thereof, are suitable members 21, referably in the4 shape of angle irons, whic extend across the sides of said base; and secured to the extremities of these memhers 21, preferably atthe corners of thebase, are suitable feet or supports 22. The base 20 is of such a size and configuration as to fit within the drip pan 17, and when in position the feet orsupports 22 rest upon the base of 9o the an, and said feet or supports are preferab y of a height to hold the ase 2O in such a position as topractically forni a closure for the drip pan 17. Extending upwardly from the top of the base 20 and communicating 95 therewith, are a pluralitjr of tubes or ipes 23. These pipes may be of any. desire( size and configuration and supported by the u per ends thereof is a pan or tray24 with W lich the pipes 23 communicate.' Arrm. d 10( within this pan or tray 24 is a suitable rack, preferably comprising a series' of spad cross-bars` 25. 'lhis rack serves as a su port for the ice. The pipes 23 are preferab y arranged on three si( es of the base 320, and

forni an open cooling casing. A suitable compartment orchaniher 26 is adapted to be inserted into the casing through the open side or end thermf, and said compartment 26 is provided with a plurality of apertures 27, 2S, arranged respectively adjacent the top and the bottom thereof, and said apertures 3o the apertures 27,

the pan or tra;v 24, and terminate sl 35 pipi` 60 drawn oit by means of the faucet 19.

are preferably covered by suitable rcuculoted materiel 2u. u hich serves to prevent the entrance ot' foreign matter into the. com pertinent 2b'.

Within two ot' each row 'of tubes, 23, preferably adjacent tubes, centrally placed in the rou', is arranged circulation air tubes 3U. (hie end 331 of these tubes project through the tubes or pipes .23 and terminate adjacent und preferablyv in close proximity to the reticuluted material .The other end 52 of these tubes project through the top of the tubes or pipes :Z3 and prcl'eruhly extend for some distance above tort of the. top of the refrigerator casing.

Preferably arranged in the pipes 23, which ure located adjacent the sides of the coinpartiuent 26, are tubes or pipes 33, thelower 20 ends l of which project through the tubes or pipes 223 just above the top of the base. 2() and terminate adjacent the apertures 2b, :uid in close proximity to the retioulutcd ma terial 99 which covers said apertures. The

per extremity 3.5 of the pipes 33 project a )ove and terminate pist beyond the pan or troy 24, and pret'erabi)- terminate short of the extremity of the tubes 30, and sind o. tubes serve the purpose of determininglr the path of the air currents Within the. cooling chaunber. A suitable over-How pipe 3G is located in one of the tubes or pipes '23. and extends from u point u ithin thc pnnor tray 24 :there the end of the respective tube or I- and passes through the .ollou' hase or tunlr 20, and projects into the drip pan 17. Within this drip pan is arranged a suitable iloat. 37 connected to :i suitable indicator 38, the end oi which latter is adapted to vbe ex- 40 posed through one o f the apertures 28, and

serres :is a ineens for indicating the amount of water within the drip pan 17.

lt: is to be understood that the pan ortray24 is located n suitable distance, from the top 0f the refrigerator casing to provide a compartment for the ice, and that the refrigerator casing: 1s provided with a suitable aperture closed bv the door 24 more clem-l)v shown in Fig. 2, und through which the ice :nay he 5o inserted and placed upon the rack 25.

It; will be seen that when the ice melt-s, Water will drop into the pun or tray 24, and from there will ilow through the pipes or tubes 23 and into tue hollow bottoni or tank 24, and when the tubes, tank, and pan or tray 24 are'tillcd with water, the excess or surplus water will pass thrmiglx the overllow ipe 36,.sho\rn more cleurll in Fig. 3, and Into the drip pan 17 from where it may be ice continues to inclt, the cold temperature v.will work its Vmay downward through the ltubes L23, thereby chilling the tubes and reA ducing the teni ierature of the liquid in the tubes, and as t e cold temperature is radi- S the 40h, und seid lsupply (not .s

,preferably covered by suitable rcticulatcd material O The purpose ol' this tube is to admit the external air into the refrigerator tor the purpose of ventilation. T he air entering the refrigerator through this pipe will be chilled by coming in contactuih the tubes or pipes 23, which hitter are titled with cold water.

` 'Ihc circulation of the air within the re irigeretor will be os follows: The warm air whith is locate-d within the compartment 26 will risc to the top thereof and pass into the tubes or pipes Ih) through the open ends 31 thereof, sind will be carried by said pipes to the top of the ice chamber or to a point above the ice, and will he discharged in said chamber. When the enters the ice chamber its ten'ipersture will be greatlyv reduced. The' incoming,r warm air will tend to force the cool air out of the ice chamber, a portion of the cool nir entering the end 35 of the tube or pipe. 33, and will be discharged through the between the walls 122 and the tubes 'or pipes 23, and will circule-.te in said space and pass4 outrof the :lpertz re opening 14 into the Space between the Walls 11 and 12, adjacent the ice chamber, and wiil be discharged through the aperat-ure or opening 13 back into the; ice chamber; It xviii thus be seen that with this improved arrangement, a complete and perfeet circulation ot' the air, as Well as of the coolinfT medium, will be obtained. A

In order to flush or clean out the pipes 23 a suit able pi )e 4l)b may be provided which has a source o fluid supply outside of the refrigerator. This pipe 40h is preferably bentinto suitable sha e so as' to fit within the pan or tray 24, an said pipe is deflected or Gif-set at the points 40a, or wherever necessary, to permitthe saine to pass around the air tubes or pipes. RU, 33. Depending from this Dipe 10b are a. plu'raiity-of pipes or nozzles 41, which may be of any desired length, and preferably of an exterior diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the tubes or pipes 23. A suitable pipe 42 may be connected to the pipe )ipe 22 leads to any source oi' town. These tubes' muy be inserted iu the tubes or pipes 23, and are supported preferably by menus of the pipe 40" restinior upon the bottom ofthe mn or tray los It will thus be seen that when the supt ater is admitted into the y pipe -ttlb through the pipe 42, it v'"i be discharged into the pipes or tubes 2.1 through i the nozzles 4] for llushing or Washing ont the i cooling easing, and in order to permit the water to pass out of the tank 2O without aeg eumulating therein and in the pipes 23, a suitable discharge opening or aperture 42 v ma)v be provided, preferably directly under one oi the tubes 21 Conneeted to this dis- 1 charge opening is a suitable pipe 43, which may lead to any desired point of discharge.

instead of employing ice as a. suppl)v for 1.3 'the eoeing medium it may be desired to use running water for this purpose in whif'h event a valve 44 is arranged to elose the discharge opening 42. Any suitable means may' be provided for seating and -unseating the valve 23 44, but a simple and ellieient means tomprises a rod or bar 45, one end of which passes through the valve 44, and said rod is rotativelv seeured to the valve. in any desired manner, preferably b v means of a pin 4.6 zg'whieh passes through the rod beneath the valve. A. similar pin 4T passes through the rod at a. point above the valve, and disposed between the, pin 47 and thel upper face of the -valve 4-1 is a suitable flexible member 4S, sueh :ze as a coil spring, Whiehsurrounds the rod and has a bearing upon the. pin 47 and the fare of the valve 44.

The upper end of the rod passes through the tube or pipe 23 and terminates in a 35 threaded portion 49, whieh is adapted to engage a suitable threaded portion 5t) in the bottom of the pan or trav24, above the respeetive tube or pipe 23. The threaded portion 5() is provided with a. suitable shoulder 4J or (follar 5i loeated at a point above the bot tom of the pan or tray 24, and said rod terminates iu asuitable operating handle 52.

A suit-able gasket 53 is preferabl)v arranged around the, discharge opening 42, and said .1; 'gasket is of surh a size as to enter a eoperating groove or depression 54 inthe lower faire 24. plvv of running w v of the valve 44. ltvvill be seen that when the Aoperating handle 52 is rotated, the theraded portion 5t) will feed the rod 45 downward when I.

3f; rotated in the proper direc tion to Close t-he valve, and the pressure ol' the piu 47upon the vielding member 4X will fort-e the valve 44- against the gasket '53.

lnseatiug the valve, the natural.tendeney of a earelul operator is to l'oreiblv seat the same to prevent any possible leaking. 'ln

ordinarvetmstruetions-it often happens that the operator endeavors lo seat the valve vwith too mueh fort e, that is, al'ter the valve i is properly seated further pressure. upon the have been thu valvev tends to strain the parts, and sometimes breaks the Yalve from its operating stem, if the operating stem is ofairil eonsiderl able length, as in the present instant-e. lt

s will be noted that with this eonstruetion, no l matter how l'oreiblt the operator seats the valve. a roniinued rotation ol' the handle 52 will c'ause the rod or stem l5 to rotate independenti).- of the valve, thereb obvialing the danger ol Snam-.ing or breaking the .valve from the stem.

When tbe valve is sea-ted, the water may be diseharged into the pipes or tubes 23 through the nozzle 4l and will aeeumulate therein and lill the tank or bottom 20. `Yhen the tank or pipes are filled, the overflow from the pau or tray 24 will pass out of the overflow pipe 36 and be diseharged into the drip pan t7.

ln order to prevent the aeeumulation or formation of "swea between the top ofthe .eompartment 2G and the bottom of the pan or tray 24, a suitable plate or member may be arranged between and equallj.` spared from the topol' the Compartment and the bottom ol' the pan or reeeptaele. 'This plate 55 may be supported in any suitable manner. sueh as b v means ol' supports 56 extending above the top ol` the eompartment 26. 'ith sueh an arrangement the eold air will he permitted to eireulate more freelv and toe plate will serve as a. means for equall;v distributing or equalizing the temperature at the sides of the rompartment, as well as at the top.

lf desired the upper ends ol' the respective 95 tubular members 23 may projeet through the bottom of the pan or tray 24'so as to sur-y round and rr-speetively proteetvthe air or cireulation pipes 30, 32, 33,115 shown more elearlv in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This arrangement prevents the pipes from beingl damaged bv means of the iet-v, if iee is used as the cooling medium.

In order to take applieants refrigeratorapart, the pipe 40h. if used, is first removed fog, through the top of the outer casing, after whit-h the hollow easing, together with the. inside chamber, may -be removed,and'then lthe iusid'eehambet` may be removed through the open front o the hollow easing. And 11@ ywhen ,itVv is desired to remove --the tubes 3?, and also the tube 33, they mav be detaehed l by unserewingr them from thel elbows or members 31.

In order that fhe'invention might be fully 115 understood 'bv those.' skilled in the art, the

details vof the foregoing embodiment thereof s speeiiieally deserihed but.

` What 1 claim as new therein and desire to seeurevby Letters Patent is` 1. 'In 'eombinatiom in -a lrefrigerutor a easing eomprising a hollow base, a hollow wall eomprlsmg spat-ed tubes supported by and eommunieating with the base, means whereby said easing may be su plied with a 125 cooling fluid and air pipes wit un 'the wall, one end ol' said pipes projecting through the wall below `the easing ano the other end extending to a point above the easing. l

2. ln 4combination, in a. refrigerator, a 130 Zio casing comprising a hoilow base, a. plurality projcctingcnd of the pipes on one side being of tubular members supported by and coni- Amunieating with the base, a receptacle supported b r and communicating with the tubillar members. said receptacle having a source of'suppl)v of-cooling fluid, and air pipes located in some of said members. said pipes on one side t' thc refrigerator extending nearly to the top ol the base and on the other side terminating just belou thc said receptacle, one end of the pipes projecting through the side of the respective niembers, the other ends passing through the tops ol` the members and the receptacle and terminating above the receptacle, the upper end of certain of said pipes terminating short of the remaining pipes.

3. ln combination, in a refrigerator, a casing comprising a hollow base, a plurality of tubular members supported by and communicating with the base, a receptacle sup- )ort ed by and communicating With the tubular members, said receptacle having a source of supply of cooling fluid, and air' pipes located m some of said members, the external diameter of said pipes' being conside 'ably smaller than the internal diameter ot the members, one end of said pipes projecting through the side of the mem )ers bes low t-he receptacle, the, projecting ends on one side being lor :.ted adjacent the base and on the other side t-lljaeent the. receptacle andthe other ends ot the pipes projecting through the members and terminating above the receptacles. i

4. In combination, in a refrigerator, a casimT comprising a hollow base, a plurality of tubular members supported by and communicating uith the base, a receptacle supported by and communicating with the members, said rece itaele having a Source of suppl) of eooliiw fluid, and air circulating pipes located within some of the tubular members` one. 'end of said pipes projecting through the side of the members, the other cnds` projecting through and terminating above the receptm'le. the j'nojecting end of some said pipes` being located below and adjacent. the receptacle and the projecting end of the remainder of the pipes being located above and in proximity to the hollow base.

5. ln eombiimtion, in a refrigerator, a casing comprising a holloer base, a plurality 'of tubular members supported by and commnnicating 'with the base. a receptacle supported by and communicating with the members, said receptat-le having a source of supply of cooling luid, and air circulating pipes located viliin some of the tubular members, om end of said pipes projecting through thel side of the res ectivc members, the other ends jiojecting t irough and terminating above the receptacle, the

loeated below and adjacent the receptacle and the projecting end of the pipes o n the other side being located above and in elifvsc proximity to the hollow base and thc upper end ol thc last said pipe terminating short ot' thi` upperend of the remaining pipesl wherebj' an aircirculation is obtained through the plptS.

ln combination, in a refrigerator, a casing comprising a bollo base, a plurality of tubular members supported by and cxtending partially around the periphery of said base, said members having communication with the hase. aireceptaele supported by and having communication with the members, said receptacle having a source of supply of cooling lluid, air pipeslocated within Sonie of the members, the ends of s said pipes projecting through the sides of thc members, some of said projecting ends being located id iacent the base and the others adjaeeni die receptacle, the free ends of the pipes projecting through and terminating above the refeptacle, and a removable chamber wit-hin che casing', said chamber being provided with apertures adapted to register with the ends of the pipes projecting through the sides of the members.

7. .In a rerigerator,' the combination of an outside fusing,l a drip pan within the casing having a dischargeoutlet, a removable casing Within the firstl casing, and comprising a hollow base. tubular members supported by and extending partially around the periphery of the base, said members having communication with the base, a re-` ceptaele supported by and having comnmnication wit-h the. tubular members, said receptacle having a source of -supply of cooling fluid, means for supporting the base of the easing above the drip pan, an overflow pipe within one of the members and leading from the receptacle to the drip pan, a chamber removailr seated in the casing and provided with apertures in the sides thereof. and air pipes pro'ecting through some of the members and aving communication.with the. chamber through the apertures, the free ends of said pipes projecting land terminating above the re-v S. In a rerigeratox, the combination of an outside casing, a hollow casing removably seated within the first said casing and having a source of liquid supply, a drip,pan having a discharge outlet, an overow pipe leading from the. casing and dischargi fr into the pan, a chamber removably seat'eiil in the second casing` and having apertures in the walls thereof, air pipes one end of which-project through the wall of the ho1- low casing and conmiunicate with some of the a erlures, an indicator visible Lliiuugli municnting with tlsc lmsc, :L 'pipe adapted one o the apm'tims. anfl :t float in tlw 'lrip pan fm' operating the indicator.

9. In :i retrigerutm, tlu` cmnlnmttmn nl im outside casing 'pi'millml vili :in nii' imssagv cmnumnicnling with tlw inta-i'iur nl" lln casing. 1 liollnw faxing itnimnl-llv .futitml Within @li irst said casing. :intl having :i Suppe@ 0f Suppl): if Pauling luicl. n lmmlwi removably sommi within tlw st'cwni'; smid casing and piuvitlt-tl with :xpvrltii'w'in tlit` walls tlitrtuf, nir pigws mw cnil ui which prujct llmmgli tlu lmlluw inning :mtl having.: communicatiun with tlie clmmwz' tl'n't'uglt the apvrturrs, :tml with flic insitlv ma tlm nntside casing, :intl mvuns fm' admitting vxtti'.- nal ait intnv tho mitsitl@ casing.

l0. ln cmnlrinutinn. in :i icftigtmm; a hollow casing; adapted to ivccivf :i cooling liquid, smid Casin;r comprising n hollow lum. and Sinin walls, :1 il-cnptacle snplwi'tr-tl and mumnunicating with the hullnw walls, Said-luist. being pim-'idtrl with a uiwlm'gv uutllft, a .nlvQ within tlux lmscfm flusing tlw outlet, :intl :xmms fur npvrzitingl [liv vulve, said means boing ltfvntml within the l wall of tht* casing ith n ptntiun tlxfmi' piujvclinf; :thm'u tlm snill wnll. ,E

1l. ln cuinbinntitm. in :t I'vl'i'igcmur, n; casing cfunprisng a hollow lmsf, :i plurality of tubular members supported by und Gonti tl'itncss I Fnimcis A. Hmmss, UNAS. H. SEEN. 

